Three killed in multi-vehicle collision on ‘death stretch’ of N1

Three people died in a crash involving two trucks and a bus on the N1 highway between Laingsburg and Beaufort West early on Saturday, 31 May.

Three adult male passengers on the bus were declared dead at the scene, while 68 other passengers sustained minor to moderate injuries and were transported to nearby medical facilities for treatment.

The cause of the accident is not yet known, but it is suspected that one of the drivers may have fallen asleep behind the wheel.

Police spokesperson Lieutenant-General Malcolm Pojie said the SA Police Service had registered a culpable homicide case.

The bus was en route to Cape Town, travelling in the opposite direction to the two trucks. Emergency services worked for hours to clear the wreckage and treat the injured.

The section of the highway where the crash occurred is known as the “death stretch” and has claimed dozens of lives over the years.

Between 1 December 2024 and 3 January 2025, the Western Province recorded 106 fatal crashes in which 122 people died on municipal and provincial roads. Notably, 51 of these incidents involved pedestrians, with 21 cases identified as hit-and-run.

Western Cape Mobility MEC Isaac Sileku said the N1 accounted for the highest number of incidents, with most crashes occurring between 10pm and 1am.

During his provincial budget speech for 2025/26, Sileku outlined bold plans to improve public transport, tackle congestion, revive rail services and build safer, more connected communities.

He emphasised the importance of a functional public transport system, with passenger rail as the backbone, complemented by bus services, minibus taxis, e-hailing services and non-motorised transport. DM